Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler - has anyone read it?

[BoredByTheChore]

I've just finished this and was a bit disappointed by it at the end. I really want to discuss it with someone! I've read a fair bit of Anne Tyler but this wasn't really what I expected.

[SplitInfinitive]

I read it a few weeks ago. It was her contribution to the retelling of Shakespeare project iirc, based on The Taming of the Shrew. I suppose she was constricted by the original story but yes I agree that, whilst I did enjoy it, it wasn't the best (although I haven't read that many of her books).

[WantToBeABetterDIL]

I also read it and didn't like it - Atwood's Hagseed (The Tempest from the same retold series) was MUCH better.

[SplitInfinitive]

I'd be interested in reading Hagseed :)

[tormentil]

I was given this on my birthday by my Mum. She's given me the latest Anne Tyler book for the past three years. One is unread, one is read- the Spool of Blue Thread, forgettable - and now this sits and looks at me. I loved her early stuff- ' Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant' - but would skip the most recent.
(My birthday books used to be Margaret Forster - always appreciated.)

[BoredByTheChore]

Thanks for replying, I guess I was disappointed that she didn't adapt the ending more. I felt like a lot of the book was moving towards Kate finding her own independence and then in the end I'm not sure she really did. I didn't understand why she seemed to demonise Bunny at the end when she seemed to be the one character who stood up for Kate.
I suppose I expected Anne Tyler to do more with the story, she is usually so insightful into human behaviour that I wasn't sure what point, if any she was trying to make.

[quizqueen]

I have enjoyed all of Anne Tyler's books.

[drwitch]

I just liked it - I think the point is something like we can liberate ourselves if we try to understand others.
The one I really hated (and wished I hadn't read) was the Merchant of Venice one

Hagseed was brilliant wan't it

[Notcontent]

I love Anne Tyler but I really wasn't impressed by this one.

[littlerach]

I'm partway through and finding it almost too simply written, thus skimming it a bit.
Usually I find myself thinking about Tyler's characters a great deal, and spending time reading her novels.

[WantToBeABetterDIL]

Oh no, was My Name is Shylock not good either, drwitch?! I was looking forward to that

[hackmum]

I quite enjoyed it but agree that Hagseed is miles better.